Smith's Bible Dictionary

Smith, William

A classic reference, this comprehensive Bible dictionary provides a wealth of basic background information. It includes more than 400 illustrations and special articles in addition to page after page of basic information.

Hoshea

Hoshe’a (salvation).

1. The nineteenth, last and best king of Israel. He succeeded Pekah, whom he slew in a successful conspiracy, thereby fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah. Isa. 7:16. In the third year of his reign (b.c. 726) Shalmaneser cruelly stormed the strong caves of Beth-arbel, Hos. 8:14, and made Israel tributary, 2 Kings 17:3, for three years. At the end of this period Hoshea entered into a secret alliance with So, king of Egypt, to throw off the Assyrian yoke. The alliance did him no good; it was revealed to the court of Nineveh by the Assyrian party in Ephraim, and Hoshea was immediately seized as a rebellious vassal, shut up in prison, and apparently treated with the utmost indignity. Micah 5:1. Of the subsequent fortunes of Hoshea nothing is known.

2. The son of Nun, i.e., Joshua, Deut. 32:44; and also in Num. 13:8, though there the Authorized Version has Oshea.

3. Son of Azaziah, 1 Chron. 27:20; like his great namesake, a man of Ephraim, ruler of his tribe in the time of King David. (b.c. 1019.)

4. One of the heads of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. Neh. 10:23. (b.c. 410.)